What? My eyes widened. I’d had no idea this was coming. Behind Rodrigo, I noticed Victoria pressing her lips together in a way that suggested she wasn’t entirely pleased with this development.
“Sable, do you accept this responsibility?” Dad’s voice was gentle but expectant.
My throat tightened, and I felt my eyes growing warm. I nodded. “I accept, Dad.”
The applause was thunderous.
“The second piece of good news,” Rodrigo continued, “is that I’m delighted to announce Sable’s upcoming engagement to Lycan King Caelan Blackwood.”
Chapte
Caelan naturally took my hand and nodded acknowledgment to the guests.
Congratulations!”
“How wonderful!”
The garden filled with celebratory voices and the clink of raised glasses.
604
An hour later, the festivities had settled into a more relaxed rhythm. Some guests had begun saying their goodbyes.
I was chatting with several pack members when a uniformed male server approached. He looked to be in his thirties, average height, with the kind of forgettable face that wouldn’t draw attention in a crowd.
‘Miss Crawford.”
“Yes?’
‘Miss Daisy asked me to find you. She’s waiting for you in the back garden.”
I glanced around, surprised. ‘Did Daisy say what this was about?”
“She mentioned having a surprise to show you. She seemed very excited.”
I couldn’t see Daisy anywhere nearby. In the distance, Caelan was deep in conversation with Rodrigo.
Thinking Daisy had probably prepared another little gift, I smiled. “All right, lead the way.”
We started from the main garden, following the stone path toward the rear of the manor. At first, I could still hear the party music, but as we walked farther, the sounds grew fainter. The decorative lights became sparse, leaving only a few path lamps for illumination.
‘How much farther?” I asked.
The server didn’t answer, just kept walking.
I frowned. Something felt wrong. Daisy wouldn’t wait for me in such a remote location.
“Wait. I stopped. “This direction is wrong. The back garden isn’t this way.”
The man stopped too, slowly turning around. The moon had slipped behind clouds, leaving his face in shadow.
‘Is Daisy really back there?”
That’s when I noticed how quiet it was. No insect sounds, nothing.
“I’m going back.” I turned and started walking away.
But I’d only taken two steps when someone grabbed my arm from behind.
“Let go of me!” I twisted around, struggling.
The man’s face wore a sinister smile, all pretense of respect gone. He pulled a syringe from his uniform pocket, the liquid inside glowing an eerie blue.
“Don’t fight it, Miss Crawford. This will be over quickly.”
Without thinking, I drove my right knee upward as hard as I could, connecting with his wrist.
“Ah!” He yelped in pain. The syringe flew from his grip, landing in the grass several feet away.
‘Didn’t expect you to know how to fight. He shook out his wrist, reassuming an attack stance.
I backed away quickly, scanning my surroundings. Flower beds to the left, wall to the right, the path behind me blocked by him.
He lunged forward, moving fast. I dodged sideways but he still managed to grab my shoulder.
‘Get off!” I drove my elbow backward.
We grappled. He was clearly trained, much more skilled than the mysterious man who’d attacked me before.
Eventually, he overpowered me, forcing me down onto the grass. My knees and palms scraped against the ground.
“Stop wasting energy.” He retrieved the syringe, checking the needle. “This won’t kill you. It’ll make you feel very good. Soon you’ll be begging me to fuck you.
Ice ran through my veins as I realized this was some kind of aphrodisiac. I immediately tried to mind-link Caelan and Dad, but I might not have enough time.
He grabbed my hair, forcing my head back to expose my neck. The needle slowly approached my carotid artery.
I squeezed my eyes shut. This was it.
Just as the needle was about to pierce my skin, a hand shot between it and my neck. The needle drove straight into his forearm instead.
“What the- The man’s words cut off as a fist sent him flying.
“Caelan! Your hand!” I stared in horror at the syringe protruding from his arm.
He grimaced, yanked out the needle, and charged at my attacker.
“You bastard!” He seized the man’s collar and slammed him against a nearby stone pillar.
The man crumpled, all fight leaving him.
‘Caelan!” I scrambled to my feet, seeing blood trickling from the puncture wound. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He shook his head, but his face had gone pale. “Are you hurt?”
“No, just scrapes. But you-
Less than two minutes later, Rodrigo arrived with security personnel.
“Sable! Dad rushed over to check for injuries. “Are you all right?”
‘I’m fine, but Caelan was injected with an unknown substance. The drug appears to be an aphrodisiac.”
The security team had already restrained the unconscious attacker.
“Take him for interrogation.” Rodrigo’s voice was ice-cold. “And get our best doctor immediately.”
Caelan sat heavily on the stone steps, his face flushing red. “Sabi, I’m burning up.”
I examined Caelan briefly, confirming it was indeed causing arousal symptoms. “Dad, don’t call a doctor. I’ll handle this myself. I need to get Caelan out of here.”
Rodrigo looked puzzled. “Sable, Caelan doesn’t look good. Are you sure you don’t need another doctor’s help?”
I stammered a bit, too embarrassed to explain that no doctor could solve this-only I could. I gave my father a vague excuse and left with Caelan.
I gripped the steering wheel tight, my knuckles turning white. Every few seconds, I checked the rearview mirror to see Caelan. He didn’t look good.
“Too hot… it’s too hot, he mumbled, twisting in the backseat.
His fingers pulled at his collar, then fumbled with his jacket buttons. “These clothes… they’re too tight.”
Caelan, hang on. We’re almost there,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite my growing concern.
The temperature inside the car seemed to rise with each mile. A strange scent filled the space-something primal and unfamiliar. I couldn’t place it.
Caelan’s eyes caught mine in the mirror. For a split second, they flashed gold. My stomach knotted.
“Sable… I feel strange… Pain laced his words as he pressed his forehead against the window.
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